Fodder Thoughts: Dealing with the Summer Traffic Dip
For this first edition of Fodder Thoughts, I'm focusing on the seasonal traffic dip I'm noticing with my sites.I say "dip," but it's more like a "plummet" ... and I don't like it one bit.
May 2006 was the best month ever for the Fodder Network, which makes sense since the Network's two largest sites -- Filmfodder and TV Fodder -- both benefitted from big TV finales (Filmfodder's primary traffic generator is The Lost Blog and TV Fodder got a major bump from American Idol).
Unfortunately, traffic dropped off the map when the finale euphoria wore off. How bad is it? June's stats are less than half of May's. Yeah. Ouch.
Now, I know I need to keep this all in perspective and I know this is simply the way things work in a seasonally-based content area. Nonetheless, the traffic drop-off doesn't sit well with me. I'm a control freak, and I don't like shifty traffic/revenue streams, but that's what I've got right now.
In the past, traffic fluctuations sent me into "reactive" mode. I'd start concocting wild schemes to boost traffic, and from time to time I'd actually invest valuable production hours into development of those schemes. But I think I've finally learned my lesson (I think). These days, even though I'm full of traffic discontent, I'm trying to take a step back and critically analyze my ideas.
So far, it's working. I haven't wasted time on short-term solutions (which never work, by the way). Rather, I'm examining new ideas from within both short- and long-term perspectives. I'm in this for the long haul, and I want to develop content that's going to have legitimate value for my business and for my audience.
Of course, the TV season doesn't kick in for another couple months, so my current level-headed state may soon give way to full-on hysteria.
We shall see! -- Mac
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